The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-08-18
Battle With a sting-Ray.

Dan was the first to find game, run
ming his ray down in a water-filled de-
preston near the north fence. says the
San Francisco Examiner. describing a
hunt for sting-fays. A stanch, big
| fellow was the cornered oyster pirate.
as he lay quietly watching the advance
of his enemy. As Dan raised his maui
the ray whirled like fash and faced
him, the wicked, black eyes shining
| with devilish CLEAN that added to
the mischief threatened by the barbed
| harpoon, that was uneasily moving
from its sheath in the snaky tail, much
after the style of an angry serpent's
| fangs. Dan Unanswered for posi-
ton to strike from in safety.
The ray unanswered, too, and much
excelled Dan in rapidity of movement.
Round and round the man and the
| fish circled, the latter dreading the
maui and the former dreading the ter.
| rible serrated harpoon.
The ray was curved and resting on
/ his throat, head uplifted, and tail NOV.
| ing threateningly.
Dan travelled in the attitude of q
batter over the home plate, posing the
heavy maui as lightly as if it were a
| feather.
Suddenly the heavy wooden hammer
came down with mighty force. The
watchful fish was too quick and lodged
with the science of a skilled boxer.
The mud FLASHED in thick showers
| for yards around, giving the journal
istic spectator dense bath.
At the same moment the tail shot
out and cracked against Dams gum
boots. The range was too long, how.
ever. The harpoon did not reach,
and the hunter was unhurt.
Smash went the maui again and
| with similar result to the ray, but
not to Dan. The rays return thrust
was better aimed, and the maui.
wielder sprang back with cry OF
| pain.
In his right boot and just above the
| knee was a cash two inches long, and
| cut as clean as a knife wound.
Dan started to examine his hurt, but
| suddenly changed his mind and grab
| bling his maui made furious rush fol
| the Eulrderous fish. He no longer
wasted time sparrlng for a chance a,
| the rays head, but rained his blows
anywhere on the broad back, regard
less OF danger from the furiously
| thrashing tail.
With such an extensive surface the
| maui could not entirely miss, and the
fury Of the wounded hunter was sucl
| that an elephant would have beer
crushed under its weight.
In very few seconds the tail wa:
stilled and Dan would have beaten the
dead fish to a shapeless mass but fol-
the Intervention of the reporter, who
desired an Inspection.
THE proper way to kill 'em is tt
smash their bloody heads" said Dan
"but that cut in the leg made me for
| get everything, an l just jumped hin
| anywhere"
He spoke truly, for while he was ex
aiming his hurts the reporter dragged
| the ray from the bed and found thai
the maui had played sad havoc will
his former proportions. He proved ;
giant in size, and was afterward fount
to weigh 12S pounds. Meanwhile jim
and the captain We're having better
luck. The former had found the Ell,
of his trail in more of shallow thar
| Dan, and consequently the ray wa:
| not rs active. He escaped without
scratch and mashed the head of hi
| prey ut the second attempt. His catcl
| was quite comfortable in size, weigh
| ing about seventy-five pounds, o
which fully twenty-five were made VI
| of oysters.